Pad forming machine



Aug. 9, 1949. J. w. HEWITT, .u

PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1947 '7 Sheets-Sheet l &

Aug. 9, 1949. J. w. HEWITT, JR I 2,478,485

PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed April 29, 1947 I '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIELZ- hi; v.1

Aug. 9, 1949. J. w. HEWITT, JR

PAD FORMING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 29, 1947 3 W1) MVl'OD JOHN W. HE W/ T T JK.

Aug. 1949. J. w. HEWITT, JR 2,478,485

' PAD FORMING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 29, 1947 6 z 76 {g I 1949. J. w. HEWI TTJJR 2,478,485

PAD FORMING MACHINE Filed A ril 29, 1947 '7 Shets-Sheet 5 Aug. 9, 1949. J. w. HEWITT, JR

PAD FORMING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed April 29, 1947 J. w. HEWITT, JR

PAD FORMING MACHINE Aug. 9,1949.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 29, 1947 m 9 as Q Patented Aug. 9, T949 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAD FORMING MACHINE V John W. Hewitt, Jr., Neenah, Wis. I 7 Application April 29, 1947, Serial No. 744,701

17 laims. (01.164-28) This invention relates to the art of cutting web and sheet material to form separate articles shaped in conformity with the configuration of dies mounted on rotary elements past which the material is moved. Specifically, the invention has reference to the making of sanitary pads of cellulosic absorbent material adapted for envelopinconsistent with its scope as hereinafter claimed.

An object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for cutting out pads from a web of material fed between an assembl of die cutter rolls and an anvil roll capable of operation at high speed, with means for conveyin the formed pads serially in spaced relation to a plurality of takeoff mechanisms operating in timed relation. 7

Another object is to provide, in an apparatus of such character, novel stripper means operative selectively to remove pads from the conveyor means out of the" path of immediately following pads whereby to position the removed pads for subsequent engagement by take-off mechanism by which the pads are transferred to edge processing means and ultimately to Wrapping and packaging means.

A further object is to provide a 'novel assembly of die cutter rolls and cooperating anvil roll and means for mounting the same in service position.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus of the character indicated having novel pad end forming and embossing means.

With these and such other objects in view as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the

invention comprises the novel combination, construction, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the apparatus including the pad spacer means, conveyor, and first take-off mechanism;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially on the line 4+4 of Figure 3 with the take-off mechanism. operatively engaged with a pad stripped from the conveyor;

Figure 5 is a section similar to Figure 4 but with the take-off; mechanism disengaged;

V Figure 6 is a vertical section taken longitu- 2 r dinally of the machine through the die cutter and anvil roll assembly;

Figure 7 is an enlarged top plan view of the die cutter roll assembly;

Figure 8 is a schematic plan of the die cutter and anvil roll assembly;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the material web and pads cut therefrom atvarious stages of the processing.

As shown, an embodiment of the invention includes suitable means, indicated generally as a feeding conveyor assembly F, by which a web W of appropriate material is fed into one end of the machine between the rolls of cutter means indicated generally at C. The material here employed is a laminated cellulosic absorbent commonly used in the making of sanitary pads. The web passes between an anvil roll and a series of die carrying cutter rolls all of which are driven by gearing connectionfrom a power source M here shownas an electric motor. The cutter rolls are dipsosed radially with respect to the anvil roll. During its passage through the cutter assembly the web is subjected first to a series of pad end shaping and cutting operations, with embossing, and then to a straight line severing to complete formation of the individual pads. After leaving the cutter assembly the pads are subjectedto'the action of spacer ,mean's S by which they are separated for travel in spaced relation longitudinally of the machine to take-oil stations disposed serially along the pad conveyor.

The take-01f stations, as here shown are three in number, indicated generally as T1, T2 and T3, but any number compatible with the length of the machine may be. employed. At' each take-off station thepads there acted upon are removed from the conveyor, given anedge rufiling,"and passed to gauze Wrapping and packaging means P.

"The .die cutter assembly shown in Figures 1, 2,

.6, '7,and 8 comprises a pair of laterally spaced upright standards 10 secured on a base H and mounting between them a central cylindrical anvil roll [2, four die cutter rollsi3, l4, I5 and l6,'and a severing roll l'l. 'The axes of all rolls are parallel and extend transversely of the 'machine, with the die cutter rolls and; severing roll idisposed radially of the anvil roll in equidistant relation therearound. V

of its'axial shaft [9 in registry with an upwardly directed vertical slot 20 which opens" at its lower end. to the aperture 18. The slot 20 is closed at its upper end to define the service position of the anvil roll which is supported on bearings 2| that journal the roll shaft I9. The bearings are adjustable vertically within the side standards on anchor blocks 22 detachably engaged with the side walls of the slots 20.

Each side standard [0 is provided with a plurality of inwardly directed slots open at their outer ends and dispes'ed radially with respect to the axis 'of the anvil roll shaft I9 when it occupies its service position. In this embodiment of the invention there are five such slots, indicated in Figure 1 at 23, 24, 25, 26, and Tharranged to mount at their closed inner ends roller bearing assemblies 28. These roller bearing units journal the respective shafts 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 of the four die cutter rolls l3, l4, I5; [6, and the severing roll I I. Hand wheels 34 are operative to shift the bearing assemblies 28 within their respective housingfslots for radial adjustment of the die cutter and severing rolls relative to the "anvil roll. The various rolls are driven in synchronism by the power source M'through conventional gear train means indicated generally at 35 in Figure 2. The central anvil roll is rotated in 'a clockwise direction and the die cutter and severing rolls are rotated counter-clockwise.

Each die cutter roll is substantially of the construction disclosed in my co'pending application Serial No. 683,894, filed July 16, 1946, entitled Die edge grinding method and apparatus. As the various die 'cutter rolls of the present invention are substantially identical adescription of one, specifically the uppermost "roll 15, will sufice for all. The body of the roll is provided with diametrically opposed pairs of "cylindrical radially disposed sockets 36 which communicate through the center of the roll. Th'ese sockets are in a circumferential series adjacent each end of the roll, the axial spacing er the two series determining the longitudinalextent of the pads produced by the apparatus. A bearer ring 31 is secured on each end of the roll body for surface contact with the anvil roll. The diameter of the bearer rings is somewhat larger than that of the roll and determines the depth of cut of'the dies.

The dies themselves are in pairs;'one member 38 complementing the'othe'r'3'9. Each has its cutting edge shaped 'as substantially a quarter seg- V the die in each socket to anchor the 'die in service position. Detachable securing elements 43 headed in' the retainer plates and threaded into the roll body serve to lock the dies and retainer plates in service position. As the dies function to cut by rolling point contact the cutting edge of each lies at all points'on thec'lrcumference of a circle having a diameter equal to the external diameter of the bearer-rings 3:1,

The material web W (see Figures 2 and 8) enters the cutter assembly beneath the first die cutter roll l3 'andis trained up'and over the'anvil roll -I2 to pass successively-betweentheanvil roll,

the four die cutter'rolls and the severing roll 11.

Its passage through the assembly is facilitated by the fact that it is firmly gripped between the anvil roll and one or more endless belt retainers 44 trained over the series of die cutter rolls and the severing roll. The retainers 44 are here shown as conventional V-belts operating in complemental circumferential grooves in substantially the axial midsection of the rolls. Due to the arrangement of the cutter dies the side edges of the web are cut to ftjmrin tapered and somewhat rounded pad ends. The provision of four cutter rolls assures that each pad end shall be twice cut on the same curved line of severance, thus eliminating any possibility of jamming or stoppages due to imperfect cuts. The arcs of severance of the cutter dies overlap slightly in order to provide complete cleavage of the material acted upon.

Waste material along the side edges of the web resulting from thescallop cut is prevented from fouling the cutter assembly by being istained on the Web until it has passed the cutter rolls. This is accomplished by providing a very small and shallow notch :45, in effect a nick, in substantially the center of each die cutting edge. The efi ect is to leave small, thread-like connections 46 (shown exaggerated in Figure 9) between the pad end portions and the marginal waste ma terial. These connections are so fragile that the waste material falls away as the material leaves the cutter assembly. While passing through the cutter assembly the pad ends are formed with indicia portions 41 embossed thereon by embossing dies 48 appropriately mounted on one or more of the die cutter rolls between the cutter dies 38 and 39.

The severing roll ['1 carried a plurality of straight edge cutter blades 49 secured thereon as a circumferential series extending in parallel spaced relation axially of the roll body. The spacing of these blade cutters 49 determines the width of the individual-padsfifl, and they are so correlated to the die cutters 38 and 39 that the straight lines of severance 5| occur midway between the apices .=of the pad end portions. The longitudinal extent :of "each cutter blade 49 is slightly longer than the linear distance axially of'the cutter rolls between the inner ends of the cutting edges of axially registered pairs of the die cutters 38 and 39. Accordingly, the ends of the ends of the roll on which they are mounted.

This arrangement provides a clearance between the ends of the radially projecting blades 49 and the adjacent bearer *rings at the "ends of the severing roll I1. Within the clearance space thus provided endless belt Ipre'ssers 52 are trained over the roll I! and 'rearwardly disposed idler pulleys 53freely rotatable on opposed stub shafts 54 extending inwardly from supporting brackets 55 carried at the head end of the side bars 56 of the pad conveyor frame.

The pad conveyor frame extends rearwardly from the cutter assembly. It is of elongated-rectangular form and includes the spaced parallel side bars 56 supported *o'nupright legs 51. At

longitudinally spaced "intervals horizontal supports '58 are secured to and extend transversely between and beneath the side bars. Bus bars 59, here shown as four smooth surfaced metal bars, are fixedly seated 'on top 'of "the supports 58 and extend the full length 'of the frame in parallel spaced relation. ntrthe head end of the frame these bars extend forwardly into the cutterassembly up and around the severing roll I! to a point just below that at which the blades 49 meet the anvil roll to sever the individual pads. As the pads move down and away from the point of severance they are caught by the bus bars and are slid rearwardly along the bars under the traveling presser belts 52. The position of the pads moving rearwardly under these belts is shown best in Figure 2.

As the pads pass rearwardly along the bus'bar 59 and leave the belts 52 they are engaged by the spacer means S. This means comprises a roll 60 fixed on a shaft 6| journalled in bearings 62 on the frame side bars. The shaft 6| has a gear train connection 63 with the gearing 35 whereby the spacer roll 60 is caused to rotate at a much faster speed than the rolls of the cutter'assembly. The roll 69 extends forwardly between the idler pulleys 53 and is provided with a plurality of axially disposed kicker members 64 which project radially from the roll to engage the pads 50 as they leave the belts 52. As the kicker members are traveling at a much faster speed than the pads the individual pads will be forcibly propelled away 7 from the following series in relatively widely spaced relation as shown in Figure 2. The pads discharged rearwardly along the bus bars by the spacer means are engaged by pusher lugs 65 carried by endless conveyor chains 66.

The conveyor chains are disposed longitudinally of the conveyor frame beneath the bus bars 59 over sprockets 61. The forward sprocket is fixed to a shaft 68 journalled in a support 58 and driven by a gearing connection 69 with the gearing 63 of the spacer roll whereby the pusher lugs 65 move at the same speed as the kickers 64. The pusher lugs 65 project upwardly between the bus bars 59 and extend thereabove a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the pads which they engage and slide along the bus bars.

The pad separating action of the kickers 64 is accelerated by squeeze rollers!!! fixed to a rotatable shaft H that extends transversely in the frame beneath the bus bars parallel to the spacer roll shaft BI and in vertical registry. The rollers 10 are of relatively small diameter but of a size sufiicient to extend slightly above the top horizontal plane of the bus bars between which they are disposed. The shaft! l is appropriate y journalled in the frameand may be driven through a gear connection with the gear train 63. If desired the rollers 10 may operate a as idlers. Their function is to press the pads up against the kicker members 64 so that the pads are forcibly gripped and propelled along the bus bars where they are picked up by the conveyor pusherlugs 65 and slid rapidly rearwardly along the bars to the take-offmeans.

As the individual take-ofls' are identical in structure the description of one, specifically T1; will suffice for all. The mechanism is best illus-' trated in Figures 3, 4 and 5. A shaft 12 is journalled in the conveyor frame at an appropriate point and extends transversely thereof beneath the upper flight of the conveyor chains 66. At the front side of the machine as viewed in relation to Figure 3 the shaft has fixed thereon for rotation therewith a cam 13 having a-pair of diametrically opposed curved riser portions 14 iconnected by low dwell portions 15. The cam is ro tated in a clockwise direction for alternate raising and lowering of a vertically disposed plunger 16 having a roller bearing contact 11 atits'lower end on t e perimeter of the cam; At its upper end, which is disposed above the bus bars, the plunger 16 has rigid connection to the outer end of a boom 18 which transversely overlies the entire width of the conveyor frame and extends laterally well in back thereof. The boom has a yoke 19 at its front end and a yoke at its back end. These yokes are attached to the shank of the boom for adjustment longitudinally thereon by suitable securing elements 8|.

The back end yoke 80 mounts a driven pulley 82 having opposite lateral hub bushings 83 journalled in the arms of the yoke for free rotation therein, whereby the boom has free pivotal connection with the hub portions of the pulley. The pulley itself isfixed on a driven shaft 84 for rotation therewith. As best shown in Figure 2, the shaft 84 parallels the conveyor frame at an appreciable distance behind it, and is common to all of the take-off mechanisms. It is driven by an operative connection 85 with a power source 86,"pr eferably an electric motor. a

The front yoke I9 is attached to the shank of the boom for longitudinal adjustment thereon in the same manner as the rear yoke. An idler pulley 31 is journalled in the arms of the front yoke, and a conventional V-belt 88 is trained over the two pulleys of the boom assembly. The belt drive is such that its lower flight travels from front to back; left to right in relation to Figures 4 and 5.

The cam shaft I2 carries three identical cams 89 detachably secured thereon for rotation with the shaft. The central'cam is in vertical registry with the space between the inner two bus bars and the front and back cams are, respectively, just in front and in back of the two outer bus bars but within the area overlain by the ends of the pads 50. These cams, shown best in Figure 3, have a diametrically opposed pair of arcuate'riser portions '96 joined by low dwells 9|. During rotation of the cams the dwells remain always below the bus bars but the risers 90 extend well above the bus bars, at least to a height approximately equal to that of three pads if superimposed. The action of the risers is to engage beneath and lift a pad off the bus bars onto a horizontal pad receiving plate 92 that is rigidly mounted on the conveyor frame to extend transversely across the bus bars in parallel spaced relation thereabove. The plate 92 has a downturned curved lip 93 along its forward edge to facilitate movement of pads as they are slid onto the plate, and it is slotted rearwardly from its forward edge to accommodate passage of the cam risers therethrough as they rise and fall to lift and deposit the pads.

In order to prevent passage of the lifted pads beyond the take-off station the plate 92 is directed upwardly at its rear edge to form a vertical stop wall 94. Attached to the upper edge portion of the stop wall is a forwardly extended check member 95 which cooperates vviththe belt 88 to assure that the pads stripped from the conveyor will lie fiat on the take-01f plate.

The setting of the cams on shaft 12 is so arranged that cam 13 operates to swing the boom 18 up in a vertical are on its pivot at 83 as one set of the risers begins to lift a pad from the bus bars beneath an overhanging guard plate 96 that is mounted'in the frame just in advance of the i! moves to the low idwell 15 of the-boom actuater cam .18 *and :the boom drops down with the lower flight "of the belt 88 as shown 'in Figure '4 :resting upon the pad; Frictionalengagementof the belt with the pad immediately :car-ries the pad back along the :plate 82 away from the conveyor frame until it passes from .beneath the back pulley :82 and is discharged to the wrapping and paokagingfmeanssP. The second and third following pads are, respectively, stripped from .the conveyor and discharged at the second and third take ofistations. By the time the thirdpad has passed beneath thegfirst take-off station the cam 13 at :that station has operated -.to :lift the ;boom to the position shown in iF-ligure .and the -=seeond set of II'iSBIS -90 of the cams 9 beginrtolliit the next following pad for a :repetition of the cycle.

.-It will be apparent that any idesired number of take-.ofis may be employed within the limits imposed by the possible -relative speeds -f the component partsof the apparatus. .It is a matter of timing and cam setting. -Conversely,-one or more of :the take-offs .may .be disconnected when desired without affecting operation sof the others. V

In the course of their travel beneath the takeoff :belts.8-8 thelpads :move-in the direetionof their longitudinal axis and are passed between rapidly rotating .brushes 9! which engage :the side edges of the pads and fluff thematerial -.to :soften and open {it and neutralize the compression 'imparltediby theseveringblades. Theseredge fiuffers are khousedsin a suction .manifold 88 through which lth ilint .is .drawn off to .a: remote .point-of collection or discharge,-notshown. Preferably the rotary-brushes I97 are. driven "by lge'aring connectionf99 .withlthe-shafts .or gearing-Which .drives the s'hafts'i'lZ.

-Use .Iof the apparatus .here disclosed eenables full advantagetobef'takenof .the'high speedoperationiof rotarycutters. The.eritire.output deliverable at maximumoperatingspeed of 'the rotary die cutters 'is easily handled by the series of take-o'ff mechanisms operating in -timedseque'nce.

'I claim:

;1.In an apparatus {for cutting articles irom webmaterial, diecutter means operative .to;'shape and i sever individual articles, means for. feeding material ,to nan'dffor discharging severed articles fro'mthe die cutter means, a conveyor" receiving articles from said .die cutter means,-continuously operating article .takee'off means disposed serially along "the conveyor, and .means adjacent each ta'ke 'oif -means operative-to render the sameiinefi'ectiveifor'intervals correspondingto the passage oftone or more articles on the conveyo ..past that'partlcula'r take-off means.

2. In an apparatus iforrcuttin'g articles from Weomaterial, a .rotalyfdie cutter assembly having'famaterial feedpoint andranrarticleldischarge point; means-w operativelto pass .a web of .material through said-assembly, an-endless conveyor disposed 'tdreceive at one end. articles delivered from" said discharge pointidr'iven meansadjacent said discharge. point operative to .BilEageand spaceiapart. articles on the. conveyor,..aj-series of articletakeeofi stations spaced apart alonglthe conveyor longitudinally'thereof, cam -,means..asso ciated with the conveyor .ateachtake-ofisstation; means ,Dperating'the. cam,.means=;to.eng-age and strip on periodically .earticlescmoved; along the conveyor, article .engaging .means at each takeeofijstation cooperative. with. the cam.means to move" the stripped; ofi. articles away from the '8 e e on sa d mean a tin i se uence whereby a s tion when t kin o a icle is bypassed; byimmediately following articles IIIOV? me along the conveyor- 3.32m [an apparatus for u t n art e fro Web :material,,. a rotary die cutter assembly having aieedipointand ia'disq r e p n means rerative to pass a web of material through said assembly from :feed point to discharge point, means in said assembly operative to deliverindlvidual articles serially from the di cha e poin a conveyor frame having oneend'thereof arran ed :to receive articles discharged ifrom the cnttersassembly, .a conveyorin said frame operatir to move the de osited artic lon itudinal y along the frame, a series of take-off stations along the-frame in spacedrelation longitudinally thereof, and article engageable means at each static :operativeto move articles from the con lliyor and'away 'from the frame,

In an apparatus ;for cutting articles from webimaterial, an anvil roll,'a-die roll, a severing roll, said die roll and severing roll being disposed in circumferential relation -to' the anvil roll and .the-axesof allsaid rolls being parallel, a series of circumferentially spaced cutter dies mounted insaicl dieroll adjacent each end, said dies being registered in pairs 'axially'of ther roll, means .feeding a web of material between the anvil roll andthe die and severing rolls, and a plurality of blades onsaid severing roll, "the length :of each blade being-slightly longer than the distance between the axially registered pairs of dies on thedierollv 5. In an apparatus for cuttingarticles from web material, an anvil -roll,-a die .roll,.a severing roll, said dieroll and severing roll beingdispdsedin circumferential relation to the anvil (roll and thefaxes ofallgsaid rollsbeingparalleLa series of .circurriierentially spaced cutter dies on said die roll adjacent eachend, saidldiesbeing registeredinpairs axially of the; roll, each die having .a,cuttingedgecomprising a segment of] a circleand'the cutting edgesof adjacent diesin each series'being oppositelydirected, andstraight edge blades onsaid severing roll, said blades each be- 1 1% slightly longerthan and registeringtwith the space between thev inner. ends of the die cutting edges axiallyof the roll.

6. In "an apparatus for cutting articles from web *ma-teriaLa cutting assembly comprisinga central-anvirroll, a seriesrof rolls disposed radially -thereof,means operative to move a web over said a-nvil roll-serially-beneath and past the other rolls, cutter dies I on pertain of said 7 radial rolls and hav-ing :arcuate cutting edges adapted :to have rolling -pointcontact with the periphery of the-anvil roll whereby to impart a scallopcut alongr-each side :edge of a web beingprooessed, and the last roll of said radialseries having thereon iradia'll-y projecting Web severing blades having:- 'straight ledge. line contact with the anvil rollzwvhereby .to sever individual articlesfrom webzbeing processed;

'iflninaan: apparatus v for cutting articles from Webomaterial,;a;convey0r, means 'for cuttin niaterialgiintoilndividual.articles and depositing the same 301 211 18, conveyor, ;-;artic1e take-off means above and" extending over .the conveyor, cam meansbeneath theitakewff means operative to 1if t :an"article-from 1 the :conveyor into engagement-with the takeeoff means,- means, for driving the conveyor-sand ,an coperating connection between :the conveyor driving .-means1;and{ the cam m n o 8. In an apparatus for cutting articles from web material, a conveyor, means for cutting material into individual articles and depositing them on the conveyor, an endless belt disposed above and transversely of the conveyor, a cam rotat able beneath the conveyor and having a riser portion adapted to engage an article on the conveyor and lift it into engagement with said belt, and means for actuating said conveyor, cam and belt in synchronism.

9. In an apparatus for cutting articles from web material, an endless conveyor, means for cutting material into individual articles and depositing them on a flight of the conveyor, an endless belt extending over, across, and away from the article carrying flight of the conveyor. a cam rotatable between the conveyor flights and having a riser portion adapted to engage and lift an article from the conveyor into operative contact with said belt whereby to move the article away from the conveyor, and means for operating said conveyor, cam, and belt in synchronism. V

10. In an apparatus for cutting articles from Web material, an endless conveyor, means for cutting material into individual articles and depositing them on the conveyor, means operative above the conveyor for removing articles therefrom, a rotatable shaft, a cam fixed on said shaft and engaging said removing means to raise and lower the same relative to the conveyor, a second cam fixed on said shaft and adapted to engage and lift an article from the conveyor into engagement with said removing means when it is lowered, and means for operating said conveyor,

cam shaft, and removing means in synchronism'.

11. In an apparatus for cutting articles from web material, a conveyor, means for cutting material into individual articles and depositing them on the conveyor, a boom extending over and across the conveyor and supported for raising and lowering movement relative to the conveyor, a cam shaft, cams fixed thereon, one of said cams engaging said boom to raise and lower the same as the cam is actuated, pulleys carried by said boom, an endless belt trained over said pulleys, another of said cams engaging articles on the conveyor to lift an article into operative engagement with said belt when the boom is lowered and means for actuating the conveyor, cam shaft, and endless belt in synchronism.

12. Article transfer means comprising in combination a conveyor, means for depositing articles in spaced relation thereon, a cam rotatable in proximity to said conveyor to lift articles therefrom periodically, a plate disposed horizontally veyor and having a slot directed longitudinally of the conveyor, a cam rotatable in proximity to the conveyor and having a riser portion movable above the conveyor and above the plate through its slot to lift articles from the conveyor and deposit them on the plate, and means operative 10 to carry articles from the plate away from the conveyor.

14. A sanitary pad forming machine comprising cutter means for shaping and severing individual pads from a web of cellulosic material, means for feeding a web of such material thereto, a traveling conveyor arranged to receive pads from the cutter means, pad engaging means operative to space apart pads on the conveyor, a plurality of pad take-01f means arranged serially along the conveyor, means adjacent each takeoff means operative to present single pads to the take-off means, said pad presenting means being adapted to bypass pads at intervals to the succeeding take-off means, and said take-off means operating to move the pads in the direction of their longitudinal axes.

15. A sanitary pad forming machine comprising cutter means for shaping and severing pads from a web of material, means for feeding a web of material thereto, a support arranged to receive pads from the cutter means, pad engaging means operative through the support to slide pads therealong, a plurality of take-ofi means above said support in spaced relation longitudinally thereof, stripper means movable through said support to engage and lift pads from the support into contact with the take-off means whereby the pads are moved off and away from the support, and means in operating connection with each take-off means to render the take-off means ineffective at predetermined intervals whereby pads may be moved along the support to succeeding take-oil means.

16. In a rotary die cutter assembly, a pair of uprights in parallel spaced relation, an anvil roll journalled at its ends in said uprights, a plurality of die rolls journalled in the uprights in radial relation to the anvil roll, radial cutter dies on said die rolls and disposed in circumferentially spaced relation, bearer rings on the ends of said rolls in contact with the anvil roll, said cutter dies having cutting edges curved in the arc of a circle having the same diameter as that of the bearer 'rings, and means for rotating all said rolls with the die rolls moving oppositely to the anvil roll.

17. In a pad forming machine, rotary cutter means operative in seriatim to fashion pad ends at the sides of a web of material and to sever individual pads, means for'feeding a web of material to the cutter means, conveyor means arranged to move pads from the cutter means in one direction, a plurality of serially disposed take-oil" means operative to move pads from the conveyor means in a direction away from the conveyor means, and means operative on pads on the conveyor means to pass pads freely past individual take-oil means at predetermined interva s.

JOHN W. HEWITT, JR.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Schreck Nov. 21, 1933 Number 

